Key holder



Feb. 19, 1946. l.. scl-uvuDl-IUBER ETAL l 2,395,235

KEY HOLDER Filed May 24, 1945 Patented Feb. 19, 1946 KEY HOLDER Ludwig Schmidhuber and William G. Nelson, Jr., Buffalo, and Gordon W. Hill, Kenmore, N. Y.

Application May 24, 1943, Serial No. 488,282

(o1. 'io-457) 8 Claims.

Our invention relates to an improved keyholder, and it has for one of its objects to provide a key-holder which will separate a number of keys into a series of groups so that they may be more easily identified and selected when needed.

Another object of our invention is to provide a key-holder with a suitable support carrying a ilexible element so maintained on said support that it may be divided into several loops, varying in size to receive a series of groups oi keys varying in number and so that the keys in any group so held will not become mixed or confused with the keys of other groups; the flexible element being adjustable in the support so that the loops may be varied in size to conform to the number of keys in each group.

It is also the object of our invention to provide a key-holder which includes a exible element designed to -be threaded through the keys of several groups and wherein the groups of keys are separated from each other While permitting ease of manipulation of the keys of each group after selection of the group and the particular key in the group desired.

Another object of our invention is to provide a key-holder, which in one embodiment thereof has provision made for three groups of keys and which, in other embodiments, has provision made for four groups of keys.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a key-holder which can be easily assembled for attaching keys thereto, or disassembled for permitting the removal of keys therefrom.

A further object is to provide a key-holder which is simple and compact and thus takes up a small amount of space, yet has a capacity for holding large numbers of keys separated in groups so that any desired key can be more readily separated from others for use.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a key-holder wherein a chain of ball-connected element is preferably employed and the chain threaded through the support oi the holder in a manner to form a plurality of separated keyretaining loops for the keys, the flexible chain being movable in the support, which permits enlargement or reduction of the size of the key-retaining loops in accordance with the number of keys assembled for each group.

From the objects of our invention above noted it will be apparent that keys used in connection with an automobile could be grouped and held on a single key-retaining loop; such key as an individual would require for house use and keys "tions.

to chests, trunks, or the like at his home could be arranged as a separate group and be so maintained in our improved holder, while keys pertaining to business could be arranged in one or more additional groups. Thus, keys regardless of their purposes of use can immediately be selected and readily used while all keys are maintained on a single holder in compact form.

Further objects of our invention, not specilically mentioned hereinbefore will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of our improved key-holder.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of another embodiment of our improved key-holder.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the body portion or support of the key-holder shown in Fig. 1, the support being disassembled to show the details of construction of the parts thereof.

Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view showing one of the anchoring clips employed in Figs. l, 2, and 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the dividing block.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the various views.

In the exemplication of our invention shown in Fig, 1, the body portion or support 8 includes a stem I6 which may be formed of metal, plastic or any other suitable material, and although it is shown as cylindrical in cross section, may be otherwise formed. The length of the stem, of course, may be varied to suit particular condi- Mounted on the stem l5 is a dividing block il which, as best shown in Fig. 5, is of substantially rectangular shape.' This dividing block is provided with a central opening I8 which slidably receives the stem I6 therethrough and end openings I9 and 2li through which portions of a chain or other suitable flexible element are passed, as will appear hereinafter. This dividing block may also be formed of metallic, plastic, or other suitable material. Riveted or otherwise secured to one end of the stem I5, which orthe sake of convenience will be referred to as the upper end, is a clip 2l which is oi conventional design and is of the type employed for connecting the free ends of chains of the connected-ball type. The clip has a lateral opening 22 centrally thereof and sockets 23 which terminate in ballretaining portions 2:1, The opposite or lower end of the stem l is provided with .an internallythreaded bore 25 and screwed into this bore is the shank 26 of a cap 2l. The diameter of this cap is greater than that of the opening i8 in the dividing block. It will be apparent, therefore, that when the shank of the cap is screwed into the bore 25 of the stem I 6, the dividing block I1 will be slidably mounted on said stem between the clip 2I and the said cap and will be prevented by said clip and said cap from becoming displaced from said stem.

In order to co-operate with the stern I6, the dividing block I1 and clip 2| to define key-retaining loops, we provide a length of chain IB which is preferably also of the connected-ball type well known for its use in conjunction with pull chains of light sockets and other appliances, as well as for key-holders. this chain Ic are passed upwardly through the end openings ISI and 20 in the dividing block I1 and the terminal balls at opposite ends of said chain are engaged in the sockets 23 at opposite ends of the clip 2l; sufficient length of chain being provided so that loops II are created at opposite sides of the stem I6 and between the clip EI and dividing block I1, and a third loop II formed beneath the dividing block.

The chain I is free to slide through the end openings I9 and 20 of the dividing block so that the loops above said block may be enlarged or diminished, while the loop beneath said block conforms itself to the enlargement or reduction in size of one of both loops above the dividing block. Change in size of loops may also be accomplished by shifting the dividing block along the stem I5. The sizes of the loops above said dividing block will then be reduced while that of the loops below the block will be enlarged. This is due to the fact that portions of the length of the chain I0 are freely slidable through the openings I and 20 of said block.

From the foregoing it will be clear that when it is desired to reduce the size of the two upper or lateral key-retaining loops of the chain while enlarging the lower or pendant loop, the sliding of the dividing block would be resorted to, but if other adjustments of the loops are desired, the chain may be slipped through the end openings I9 and 26 of the dividing block. When it is desired to disassemble the device it is only necessary to detach the terminal balls of the length of chain from the clip 2l and unscrew the cap 21 from the stem I6.

In the embodiment of our invention disclosed in Fig. 2, the body portion 8 includes a stem I6 which is increased in length and in addition to the clip 2l at the upper end thereof it is also pro- Opposite ends of vided with a clip 28 at its lower end. In this instance the stern I6 is formed in two sections 29 and 30; section 3B having a threaded reduced portion or shank 3| which is threaded into an internally threaded bore 32 opening at the lower end of a section 29. Thus, when the reduced threaded portion 30 is threaded into the bore, the two sections of the stem IG are engaged together and for all practical purposes may be considered an integral member. Since the upper end of the section 29 of the stem I6 is riveted or otherwise secured to the upper clip 22 and the lower end of section 38 of said stem is riveted or otherwise secured to the lower clip 28 and both clips are larger than the opening I8 in the dividing block I1 slidable on said stem, dividing the stem into two sections enables the sliding block to be placed thereover when said sections are disconnected. The connection of the sections is easily effected by entering the screw-threaded shank or terminal of section 30 into the threaded bore 32 of section 29. The dividing block l1 is therefore slidably mounted on the stem I 6 and operated in substantially the same manner as the sliding block in the embodiment of our invention shown in Fig. 1.

In the particular embodiment of our invention shown in Fig. 2, opposite ends of two ball-connected chains or similar flexible elements are secured to the clips 22 and 28; the length of each chain being greater than the distance between said clips. The chains designated I0 are disposed at opposite. sides of the stem I6 and passed through the openings I9 and 20, respectively, in the dividing block I1, and thus four key-retaining loops II are provided. 'Ihe lengths of chain cooperating with the dividing block I1, the stem I6, and the clips 22 and 28 have their defining keyretaining loops I I functioning in the same manner as the key-retaining loops described with reference to Fig. 1. As in the construction shown in Fig. 1, the dividing block I1 is slidable along the stem I6 and portions of the lengths of chain are movable through the openings in the block for varying the sizes of the loops to meet the requirements of the user.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, downward movement of the dividing block results in enlarging the two upper key-retaining loops and reducing the size of the two lower loops. Upward movement of the dividing block will result in an enlargement of the two lower key-retaining loops and a reduction in size of the two upper loops. Any loop may, however, be reduced or enlarged in size individually by retaining the dividing block in position on the stem and drawing the chain forming the loop through the slip opening in said block through which it is passed. Thus manipu lating one chain will not in any manner eiect the size of the loops formed by the other chain,

Since in office buildings, hotels, and many other structures, porters or other attendants have keys in large'numbers to gain access to different rooms or parts of buildings, it will be apparent that with our invention keys may be separated into groups without regard to the number of keys in one group exceeding those in another or other groups.

This invention, therefore, has decided advantages over any key holder in which two loops are provided and in which the enlarging of one loop causes the reduction of the other. Moreover, a key holder arranged to hold two groups of keys requires the attendant or possessor of the keys to carry two key holders in order to accommodate the keys carried by a single holder constructed according to this invention. In many instances, an attendant is required to carry several key holders, and these can, in accordance with our invention, be reduced to one-half in numbery with more ready access to any key it is necessary to use.

Where in the specification and claims reference is made to a series of key-retaining loops, reference is had to three or more such key-retaining loops.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new is:

1. A key-holder, comprising a chain support, having a fixed portion and a slidable portion, and a chain having opposite end portions attached to said xed portion and its intermediate portion passed through said slidable portion to form keyretaining loops, said loops being varied in size on movement of said slidable portion.

2. A key-holder, comprising a stem, a. clip iixed to one end of the stem, a dividing block slidable on the stern, means carried by the stem at its opposite end for preventing displacement of the dividing block from the stern, and a chain having opposite ends extending through opposite ends of the dividing block and removably connected with the clip, said dividing block and stem dividing the chain into a plurality of key-retaining loops.

3. A key-holder, comprising a stem, a dividingblock on the stem, and a chain having opposite end portions operatively connected with the stem and slidable through portions of the dividing block, said stem and dividing block dividing the chain into a plurality of separated key-retaining loops.

4. A key-holder, comprising a stem, a dividing block slidably mounted on the stem and having openings at its opposite ends, a clip carried at one end of the stem, a cap carried at the opposite end of the stem, and a length of chain having end portions extending through the openings in the block and removably connected with said clip, said clip, stem and block dividing the length of chain into a plurality of key-retaining loops.

v5. A key-holder, comprising a stem, a length of chain connected with the stem, and means on the stem and slidably connected with portions of the chain for -dividing the chain into a plurality of key-retaining loops.

6. A key-holder, comprising a, stern, a length of chain, means connecting opposite ends of the length of chain with one end of the stem, means slidably mounted on the stem and slidably engageable with portions of the chain for dividing said chain into a plurality of key-retaining loops,

and means on the opposite end of the stem for preventing displacement of said second-mentioned means from the stem.

7. A key-holder, comprising a stem, a length of chain, means connecting opposite ends of the length of chain with one end of the stem, means slidably mounted on the stern and slidably engageable with portions of the chain for dividing said chain into a plurality of key-retaining loops, and means on the opposite end of the stem for preventing displacement of said second-mentioned means from the stem, said second-mentioned means comprising a dividing block and said last-mentioned means consisting of a cap having a threaded portion screwed into the stem.

8. A key-holder, comprising a stem having a pair of removably connected sections, a dividing block slidable on the stem, a clip carried on the free end of one of said sections, a clip carried on the free end of the other of said sections, a length of chain extending between the corresponding ends of said clips and slidable through one end of the dividing block, and a second length of chain extending between corresponding opposite ends of said clips and slidable through the opposite end of said dividing block, said lengths of chain c0- operating with said dividing block and said stem to form a, series of key-retaining loops.

LUDWIG SCI-IMIDHUBER. WILLIAM G. NELSON, JR. GORDON W. HILL. 

